Woods steps down after long G-D run

GROTON -- After 20 years of coaching in the Groton-Dunstable High School boys basketball program, Keith Woods has decided to retire.

Woods has been the head varsity coach at G-D for the past 16 seasons. Prior to that he was the JV coach for four years. Woods had a highly-successful tenure at G-D, leading the Crusaders to the Division 2 Central semifinals seven times, the state semifinals three times, and to the state finals twice, where they lost to Walpole and Charlestown. He has won over 200 games.

Under Woods, Groton-Dunstable also won the annual Clark Tournament Large School Division four times. He a Sun Coach of the Year in 1998, 2002 and 2010.

The 55-year-old Woods, a Littleton resident, cited the desire to spend more time with his family as the primary reason for retiring. He announced his decision recently at the team's end-of-the-year banquet.

"Twenty years is a long time," said Woods. "Seventy percent of me was saying it was time to retire. Thirty percent of me wasn't sure because I love coaching more than anything, and I get a lot out of it. But I want to be able to spend more time with my three daughters, who mean the world to me. And I have some good years left to do that."

Woods didn't rule out the possibility of returning to coaching at some point. But if this is it, he's had a great ride.

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